January 30, 2008

Aquaculture production in Philippines' Davao region up 38 percent

The regional office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reported that Davao's aquaculture production for 2007 has exceeded that of 2006's.

Aquaculture production in 2006 was 13,119 tonnes compared to 18,049 tonnes in 2007, which is an increase of 38 percent or 4,930 tonnes.

Officer-in-charge of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED) of BFAR-Southern Mindanao, Evelyn Basco, said in comparison to 2006's production, commercial and municipal fisheries have increased its production by 16 percent or 2,392 tonnes and 13 percent or 4,068 tonnes respectively in 2007.

Basco attributed the increase to interventions implemented by BFAR-Southern Mindanao in the Davao Region last year.

The interventions were the establishment of freshwater cages and fish pens; seaweed nurseries; deep sea and shallow water payao; installation of additional cages in the mariculture parks; increased tilapia, bangus and hito dispersal; and the provisioning of fishing gears to municipal fishermen.

Dispersal of tilapia fingerlings in communal waters has also contributed to the production growth.
 
Davao Del Sur reports of a 70 percent increase in aquaculture production last year with 12,847 tonnes as when compared to 7,565 tonnes in 2006.

Davao del Sur posted a significant increase in aquaculture production last year with 12,847 metric tons. The figure is 70 percent higher than the 2006 figure, which is only 7,565 metric tons.

The province also topped in commercial and municipal fisheries production for the year with 6,225 metric tons and 15,287 metric tons, respectively.